Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor Catch-All

Grenn wrote:

So you're saying I should quit my job to move to England and become best friends with Christopher Tolkien right now to win him over to the idea of allowing Silmarillion and Book of Lost Tales to be used in a new video game?

No, I'm saying that you should move to France and win him over. (His wife's from France, so he moved there.)

Gremlin wrote:
Grenn wrote:

So you're saying I should quit my job to move to England and become best friends with Christopher Tolkien right now to win him over to the idea of allowing Silmarillion and Book of Lost Tales to be used in a new video game?

No, I'm saying that you should move to France and win him over. (His wife's from France, so he moved there.)

Well, that's just adorable. I DO know someone in France...

Even with so many games on my plate, I just needed something simple to play. Mindless action. I picked up the GOTY edition, and I put in a lot of time this weekend.

I played through the first half of the game when it was released, but when I got to the second map, I burned out. I imagine one reason was that I was trying to clear out the map and spent a lot of time doing missions and gathering items I didn't care about. I was trying to decide whether to start over or continue my save. It turns out the game decided that for me, since the GOTY edition counts as a different game and the saves (and trophies) are incompatible.

This time, I focused on the story, with some side missions focused on killing captains. More quickly than I thought, I'm back to where I was. The game seems to be running smoother than I remembered. I'm still on a PS4, and I know there are some upgrades for the Pro. I'm looking forward to building up my orc army!

I was looking for a game to play while my family was out of town for the week.

This was sitting on the shelf, I originally bounced off it from open world fatigue.

His highness the Game King mentioned on a recent CC that he got it cheap in a Steam sale, so I dusted it off.

I've had a blast! Not too overwhelming with the side activities and I actually enjoy free roaming, randomly taking out orc clusters. Normally I hate that in open worlds.

When you're in the zone, it feels awesome and the animations are pretty cool, especially when you're chaining executions and whatnot. I had to get to the final tier of abilities before I could finally defeat that fkn Ghul Matron.

After clearing the first area pretty thoroughly, I hit the second last night. I'm playing with the Lithariel skin, so it was kinda freaky to meet myself.

I did feel a bit of that burn out that Aristophan mentioned, seeing a whole new area to unlock and get familiar with, but I've also only just got the Brand ability to play with. Then I found out you can mind-control Captains ... wowee.

Yeah. Great game. I got really absorbed in it. The only time it started dragging for me was when I got into the Hunting Partners quest line, which seemd very boring and pointless.

strangederby wrote:

Yeah. Great game. I got really absorbed in it. The only time it started dragging for me was when I got into the Hunting Partners quest line, which seemd very boring and pointless.

Though it makes it very easy to collect some of the harder-to-locate hunting trophy collection items.

The story doesn't have much. And some of the missions have fiddly requirements. But the dynamic stuff is great. The parts that worked for me are things like the strongholds: they start as huge danger spots to avoid and then turn into stealth zones and then eventually, as you gain power, you just ride in whenever you like.

I didn't like the hunter stuff either. Then there was a whole dlc dedicated to it, they reset my runes, and I had to learn to play all over again. That was pretty unfun, but some of the new abilities were cool.

Overall, I liked the base game better than the DLC.

I have flirted with getting this game for a long time, and I finally pulled the trigger. It's not at all what I expected. Usually, open world games have pretty easy combat and are power fantasies - at least, the ones I've played. SoM will kill you early and often. Plus, there are asynchronous online features? I had no idea! I logged on today and it told me ygregprincess had avenged my death!

Between the unexpected difficulty and the asynchronous online interaction, I have to make the comparison to the game to which many dislike comparisons.

Spoiler:

Dark Souls

...obviously, SoM is nothing like that game in any other way. The combat is straight out of Arkham Asylum, except that I remember feeling nearly invincible in AA. I'm afraid of any group more than three orcs big so far.

I picked up the GOTY version for 4 bucks. I bounced of this game previously because I was up against a Captain basically immune to everything but bow which I'm bad at (controller on Xbox).

I seem to be doing much better and liking it much more now. Missions inside of strongholds are way intense. I seem better at the combat and am regularly destroying groups of 8+ orcs and killing quite a few captains although still dying occasionally.

Really a great game, makes me really look forward to the sequel!

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I have flirted with getting this game for a long time, and I finally pulled the trigger. It's not at all what I expected. Usually, open world games have pretty easy combat and are power fantasies - at least, the ones I've played. SoM will kill you early and often. Plus, there are asynchronous online features? I had no idea! I logged on today and it told me ygregprincess had avenged my death!

Between the unexpected difficulty and the asynchronous online interaction, I have to make the comparison to the game to which many dislike comparisons.

Spoiler:

Dark Souls

...obviously, SoM is nothing like that game in any other way. The combat is straight out of Arkham Asylum, except that I remember feeling nearly invincible in AA. I'm afraid of any group more than three orcs big so far.

Oh, you.

I have this banked for when my wife & daughter go to Zimbabwe for a wedding next month. Think it will be a helpful distraction, but I'm really burning to get to it.

Just don't forget that running away from orcs is a perfectly viable option. Especially early in the game.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I have flirted with getting this game for a long time, and I finally pulled the trigger. It's not at all what I expected. Usually, open world games have pretty easy combat and are power fantasies - at least, the ones I've played. SoM will kill you early and often.

Based on my experience with it, that's actually part of the traditional open world power fantasy that SoM leans on. The beginning is utterly brutal, no doubt, but there's a tipping point. I can't remember exactly when, but at some point you'll stop for a moment and realize that your ranger has turned into a superhero and that you haven't died in ages. It makes the power fantasy more satisfying later in the game, i'd say.

That said, the combat doesn't stop being fun even with all the powers.

BadKen wrote:

Just don't forget that running away from orcs is a perfectly viable option. Especially early in the game.

This this this

BadKen wrote:

Just don't forget that running away from orcs is a perfectly viable option. Especially early in the game.

Oh, I've had to learn, indeed. Most open world games, I assume I have the tools to win almost any encounter from the beginning. I've had to set that notion aside and take this game much more seriously.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
BadKen wrote:

Just don't forget that running away from orcs is a perfectly viable option. Especially early in the game.

Oh, I've had to learn, indeed. Most open world games, I assume I have the tools to win almost any encounter from the beginning. I've had to set that notion aside and take this game much more seriously.

You have the tools; you just need to get good. It's just like that other game.

Spoiler:

Zelda II

No, at the start of Shadow of Mordor you lack a few fairly important abilities. You pick them up before too long, but based on how you prefer to play, it can be rough going until you do.

And new players, keep in mind that failure is a game mechanic in Shadow of Mordor. In the long run, the game is much more interesting and satisfying if you die occasionally. This was a pain for me until I figured it out, because I *hate* dying in games.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:
BadKen wrote:

Just don't forget that running away from orcs is a perfectly viable option. Especially early in the game.

Oh, I've had to learn, indeed. Most open world games, I assume I have the tools to win almost any encounter from the beginning. I've had to set that notion aside and take this game much more seriously.

You have the tools; you just need to get good. It's just like that other game.

Spoiler:

Zelda II

I beat that other game, and I can beat this one, too!

In several of these tough games we're discussing, picking a fight you can win is definitely part of getting gud. Running away occasionally is the wiser choice.

BadKen wrote:

No, at the start of Shadow of Mordor you lack a few fairly important abilities. You pick them up before too long, but based on how you prefer to play, it can be rough going until you do.

And new players, keep in mind that failure is a game mechanic in Shadow of Mordor. In the long run, the game is much more interesting and satisfying if you die occasionally. This was a pain for me until I figured it out, because I *hate* dying in games.

In fact, dying is almost required in SoM, because you won't get the best runes to "harvest" unless you get top level Chiefs, and it's best if you choose to die to a Chief that already has, say, a vulnerability to Stealth attacks.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I have flirted with getting this game for a long time, and I finally pulled the trigger. It's not at all what I expected. Usually, open world games have pretty easy combat and are power fantasies - at least, the ones I've played. SoM will kill you early and often. Plus, there are asynchronous online features? I had no idea! I logged on today and it told me ygregprincess had avenged my death!

Hah, that's the only opportunity for vengeance I've seen in the game. I presume because everyone else on my list stopped playing years ago. I got an achievement, thanks Fed.

The game is well hard while you learn the buttons. I struggle to pick up new controls. The numbers that congregate if you don't kill a captain quickly doesn't feel too dangerous in itself because you can always run but it makes it difficult to kill the captain.

I've cheesed a group containing three captains at a blue glowey tower by climbing up, death from above, climb, drop, climb, drop.

yregprincess wrote:

I've cheesed a group containing three captains at a blue glowey tower by climbing up, death from above, climb, drop, climb, drop.

They really freak out if that's where they killed you.

LarryC wrote:
BadKen wrote:

No, at the start of Shadow of Mordor you lack a few fairly important abilities. You pick them up before too long, but based on how you prefer to play, it can be rough going until you do.

And new players, keep in mind that failure is a game mechanic in Shadow of Mordor. In the long run, the game is much more interesting and satisfying if you die occasionally. This was a pain for me until I figured it out, because I *hate* dying in games.

In fact, dying is almost required in SoM, because you won't get the best runes to "harvest" unless you get top level Chiefs, and it's best if you choose to die to a Chief that already has, say, a vulnerability to Stealth attacks.

Just want to add on here, if you never die, you never really get a Nemesis. For best enjoyment of this game, look at Sauron's army, and just pick an Orc. For me, I pick the ugliest, meanest, most despicable orc available. Then go hunt him down, and die.

No, seriously, die. Just get a few good licks in, then stop fighting and let him kill you.

When you resurrect, kick his ass to kingdom come. Then, at least a game time day later (meaning after you've advanced time, completed a few missions, or killed other captains), that orc will resurrect. BINGO! You now have a Nemesis. Interaction with that Orc throughout your play will be your best experience through this game. You can then complete the loop of killing him a few times, getting killed every now and then, and continuing to interact with him for hours. My personal favorite tactic is to issue a death threat to your Nemesis to raise his level and make him gain bodyguards. Then I brand all of those bodyguards and make them turn on their master, only to dive in and deliver a killing blow. But, YMMV.

This always bothered me about the nemesis system. I had a nemesis I didn't even recognize when I reached the end of the game so I felt like I really missed out.

Localgod54 wrote:

This always bothered me about the nemesis system. I had a nemesis I didn't even recognize when I reached the end of the game so I felt like I really missed out.

That was the same for me but I still loved the game.

I'd love the nemesis system for a sandbox Highlander game.

I started playing this last weekend after getting it in the sale. For the most part, I've been enjoying it but I've barely been able to kill any captains or whatever they are because the same orc keeps showing up mid fight and immediately killing me. I can't even run away from him because he's apparently a cheetah orc. He's killed me like eight times and is now level 18 (I have no idea what that means but it seems high).

I'm pretty amazed how well this runs on my pc which is seven-ish years old.

edit: Ok, I finally managed to get an intel guy without accidentally killing him and got intel for the asshole that keeps killing me. Here's his thing:

IMAGE(https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/834707013889217054/36A5C877B00FA0BDEBCA5CAA84C4E40CB2B193A9/)

So, he's invulnerable to sword and ranged attacks and caragors are useless, basically one-shots me while poisoning me and he's super fast. I guess the only way to kill him is with a stealth kill but the only time he ever shows up is when I'm fighting another captain. Great.

Wow, I'm almost halfway through the game and I'm not sure I've seen one that high yet. You need to stop letting him farm you for easy XP!

Gotta find a place to fight another captain near a good spot to break line of sight and enter stealth! Then when he shows up, poof.

I've heard of this kind of thing happening to people but I got lucky. The worst is when they're only vulnerable to something you can't do yet.

Good luck...

He's susceptible to explosions. Even if they don't damage him directly, he should freak out if enough grog barrels explode nearby.

I've never had a captain that wasn't on the map in some fashion.

I agree, the hunted needs to become the hunter. Find him. Vulnerable to stealth finishers makes him cake if you find him.